Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, graced the ceremony honoring the winners of the local King Salman bin Abdulaziz Award for Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Quran for Boys, in its 27th session. The ceremony was held yesterday evening and was organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, which oversees the implementation of this prestigious annual competition.
A rich history and a journey full of achievements
The King Salman Award for Memorizing the Holy Quran is one of the most prominent Quranic competitions at the national level. It was launched more than two decades ago with the noble aim of encouraging the sons and daughters of the nation to engage with the Book of God through memorization, understanding, and contemplation. Since its inception, the award has become a beacon of knowledge and education, contributing to the development of a Quranic generation deeply connected to its faith and values. It also highlights the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in serving the Holy Quran and caring for its memorizers, a firmly established approach upon which the state was founded by King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him.
Details of the 27th session and wide participation
This year's competition witnessed exceptional participation, with over 3,600 contestants from across the Kingdom competing in the preliminary rounds. Following rigorous judging processes, 129 contestants qualified for the finals, culminating in the awarding of cash prizes totaling over seven million riyals to the winners in the six competition categories. Upon his arrival at the venue, the Governor of Riyadh was received by His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance and General Supervisor of the competition, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, His Excellency the Minister of Education, Mr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, and a number of other senior officials.
Strategic importance that goes beyond recognition
The significance of the award lies not only in its competitive nature but also in its representation of a comprehensive national project aimed at instilling the values of moderation and balance advocated by the Holy Quran. In his address during the ceremony, His Excellency Minister Al-Sheikh emphasized that the continuation of the competition and the expansion of participation reflect the utmost care that the wise leadership bestows upon the Book of God, and its commitment to nurturing a generation proud of its faith, immune to deviant ideologies, and adhering to the path of moderation. He also commended the unwavering support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect them – which has been instrumental in the competition achieving this level of excellence both locally and internationally.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar honored the members of the judging panel and the winners in the various categories of the competition, expressing his pride in this distinguished group of young Saudis who serve as positive role models in their communities. His Highness emphasized that this prestigious award, bearing the name of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is a source of pride for all and embodies the Kingdom's noble mission of serving Islam and Muslims.
